Bhubaneswar: The fire services on Wednesday served notices to 26 hotels, malls and jewellery shops to comply with the fire safety norms within two months, failing which these establishments might face closure.

The fire service directorate on February 12 conducted inspection of 26 shopping malls, jewellery shops and hotels in Bhubaneswar and found glaring negligence in the fire safety measures.

Director-general of police (fire service) Bijay Kumar Sharma said another inspection of the establishments would be done after the stipulated time frame of two months. "We have found the establishments of flouting the fire safety norms and accordingly they have been asked to overcome the deficiencies. If they fail to do so, action will be initiated under the Odisha Fire Safety and Fire Prevention Rules," said Shrama.

During inspection the directorate had also sealed basement halls of three prominent hotels as the Bhubaneswar Development Authority's norms prohibit use of basements for social functions. The team had found fire buckets being used as dustbins, then expired fire extinguishers, blocked escape routes and basements filled with combustible materials. Besides, the team had also found few establishments of operating without building approval and the fire safety certificates.

It is mandatory for establishments such as hospitals, nursing homes, cinemas and malls to adhere to fire safety norms. The directorate had started inspection of such establishments in January after fire broke out at a shopping mall near Damana in January.